Makita 6226DWE 9.6 Volt 3/8-Inch Driver/Drill Kit

I have been using this as my only cordless tool for about 3 years. It has always been reliable and the batteries are still very good. I always run them to empty before recharging.

I am a woodworker, and I have finally decided to buy a bigger one, because on some projects with a lot of long screws to drive, this thing runs out batteries too fast. But I'm talking about driving a LOT of difficult long screws. It does all basic jobs well, but when you're driving screws or bolts where you have to lean your full weight into it in order to turn the screw, this drill will wear out batteries fast. For many screws of that difficulty, you would want a bigger drill.

But for anything short of that, this 9.6 Makita is great. I got it on a crazy sale at a home center for $69.99. I consider it to be the best investment of any kind that I have ever made. Its that good. I have done a lot of projects with it, with no problems at all.

We've seen a lot of what you might call "voltage inflation since Makita introduced what were probably the first quality cordless drills way back when. First there were 7 volt drills, then 9.6, 12, 14.4, 18 and even 24 volt. These days no self-respecting contractor would show up on site with anything less than an 18v monster, and most homeowners think anything less than 12v or 14.4v is just, well, a sissy tool ;-)

Problem is that most of the inexpensive higher-voltage drills are junk, with less toque and battery life than this modest Makita. And those 18v monsters, while great if you're installing a deck, are just too big and heavy to hang for most uses- especially if you're not used to carrying 4x4s and sheets of plywood around all day.

This little drill has tons of torque, great battery life, and will outlast any cheap drill by far. It'll handle just about any common home task- hanging cabinets, installing hardware, whatever- and it's small and light enough...Read more

As far as drills go, I own and use everything from a 13 amp hole dawg to a full 18 volt cordless system, but this is the one that I like to use the most. It's lightweight, and the battery seems to last forever, which is something I wish I could say about my 18 volt. The drill has excellent balance and the grip feels nice and smooth - no weird contours or diamond textures. The Makita batteries also have the smoothest button release. You really don't have to pinch hard to get the batteries to slide out. The trigger response is good for variable speed. It also has two basic settings for torque or speed and a good reverse/forward/safety switch. I wouldn't use it for heavier tasks like driving long screws, or boring large diameter holes in wood or metal, but then that's why there's higher voltages (i.e. 12, 14, 18, & 24) - isn't life GREAT. A word of caution for first time buyers: always buy quality. There has been a lot of marketing that hypes higher voltage cordless drills...Read more